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Dyesol and Pilkington Sign Joint Venture MOU

On 8th March 2010, Dyesol (ASX:DYE) announced a collaboration with Pilkington North America (PNA) to develop opportunities in the building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) market place utilising Pilkington’s TEC series of transparent conductive oxide (TCO*) coated float glass and Dyesol’s dye solar cell (DSC) materials and technology.

PNA is part of the NSG Group (NSG), one of the world’s largest manufacturers of glass and glazing products for the building, automotive and specialty glass markets.

This announcement is to inform ASX and Dyesol’s shareholders that the two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form a Joint Venture (JV) which will be located in the USA. In addition to optimising the TCO glass produced by Pilkington and the DSC materials and technology controlled by Dyesol, the joint venture will develop and deliver a total platform solution to downstream suppliers to the building and construction markets seeking to develop glass-based BIPV products. The opportunities for the platform solution include BIPV, solar panels, automotive glazing, photovoltaic powered displays, and security products. The proposed JV is planned to collaborate directly and indirectly with and assist organisations worldwide to bring products to market. The combination of Pilkington’s leading expertise in TCO glass, including their vast experience in glass products, plus Dyesol’s recognised leadership in DSC technology is designed to ensure that the best technology platform for long-life high performing DSC glass products will be available.

Marc Thomas, CEO Dyesol, Inc. comments: “Pilkington has the reputation for quality and engineering excellence in the architectural and flat glass market. Pilkington TCO coated glass has been used globally for energy efficiency and active glazing for over 20 years and Pilkington is the market leader. PNA has maintained its leadership position by producing the best performing and highest quality TCO glass (sold under the TEC product line). Pilkington TEC product is the most specified TCO glass worldwide and has been the glass of choice for Dyesol’s DSC development programme since its inception in 1994.”

By far the biggest potential market for DSC glass is in BIPV. Of the nearly 50 million tonnes of flat glass produced annually, about 90% is used in buildings. When this is coupled with the fact that over 50% of all electricity worldwide is utilised in buildings, the demand for energy efficient and energy producing glazing and interior glass-based products in buildings becomes easy to identify. While all photovoltaic technologies can be applied to roofs in good solar environments, only DSC can produce power all day every day in any sunlight condition. The world is becoming increasingly urbanised and world’s cities comprise a much larger proportion of walls and facades than roofs. This is exemplified by the fact that the average GDP growth since 1990 is 2.7% p.a. while the glass usage growth is 4.2% p.a. cumulative. Flat glass is the key growth industry in the expansion of the built environment.

Richard Caldwell, Executive Chairman Dyesol Limited notes “Dyesol is committed to establishing best-in-class partnerships with the leaders in market segments which leverage the strengths of Dyesol’s DSC products and technology. The addition of Pilkington also aligns with the existing Corus programme, and strategically positions Dyesol and its partners to make significant progress in advancing the glass and metal based BIPV markets, respectively. In summary, Dyesol has now established strategic relationships with global leaders to completely cover a building with energy harvesting technologies which utilise Dyesol materials.”

Richard Altman, President of Building Products North America stated, “Pilkington has been involved in various ongoing solar initiatives since the late 1980’s. The Dyesol initiative affords Pilkington another solar platform to further expand our portfolio of strategic initiatives in this arena. Dyesol’s technology is an attractive BIPV opportunity leveraging the world leading technologies of both companies.”

TCO glass is a float glass with a transparent tin oxide coating specifically designed for use with photovoltaic cells to provide heightened transmittance and improved conductivity properties.

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